* At least starting out, you can build up your cash reserves by nudging the road budget down. It creates potholes and slows cars down but doesn't otherwise compromise services.
* Despite your inter-connected region, don't think of your regions as a collection of small cities. Because even the largest map tiles are 4km x 4km, that would create some rather small cities. Just for reference, downtown Boston is about 2km x 2km (roughly). Manhattan is about 60 square kilometers, and Inner Loop Houston is about 250 square kilometers.
* Don't bother with naming roads. Adjacent demolitions and other in-game events will tend to make them go away. They will never be referred as such anyway.
* Even if you have a windfall of cash, don't build up vast subdivisions in undeveloped parts of the map, as the resulting maintenance fees will sink you.
* However, if things do take a turn for the worse, demolishing underperforming neighborhoods can help restore your income.
* You can turn off the auto street grid with zones by holding Shift. It's that easy.

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